clearwire

Offering this USB modem stick for free--if you factor out the 2-year contract and $50 mail-in-rebate--Sprint must be really trying to purge the 3G/4G Plug-in-Connect from its inventory. Perhaps it's because the modem likely only connects to the carrier's original WiMax 4G network and not its fancy LTE infrastructure in the works to enable 4G surfing. … Read more

China may hold back on moving into 4G LTE even as the U.S. carriers race ahead to roll out next-generation networks.

The Chinese government is looking to hold back on granting the licenses required for its own carriers to deploy 4G LTE, according to a report from PC World, which cited local state-owned TV. The government said it may wait two to three years before granting the licenses, citing a need by carriers to expand the current 3G network equipment, as well as to wait for broader support for a variant of LTE called TD-LTE.

A delay could have … Read more

Google has sold off its stake in Clearwire to Credit Suisse, according to a new report.

Citing an unidentified source, Bloomberg is reporting that Google sold 29.4 million Clearwire shares to Credit Suisse for $2.26 each. Bloomberg says Google announced that it had sold the shares in an SEC filing, but did not say which company had acquired them.

Google announced plans to sell its Clearwire stake last month. Google initially said that it would sell its shares for $1.60 apiece, but it was able to unload them at around the company's current stock price, which … Read more

BARCELONA, Spain--Apple's iPhone has been making the rounds at all the carriers. So why not Clearwire?

Clearwire's planned move to LTE means Apple wouldn't have any difficulties in building an iPhone that is compatible with its network, according to Clearwire CEO Eric Prusch. In fact, it would benefit Apple to have an iPhone that ran on its kind of network technology, he said.

Such a notion would have been unthinkable even a few months ago, when Clearwire was stuck on its WiMax network and struggling financially. But after some financing and a cash infusion from Sprint Nextel--simultaneously … Read more

Sprint was just hours away from acquiring Metro PCS in an $8 billion deal when Sprint's board nixed the agreement, CNBC is reporting.

Citing unnamed sources, CNBC's David Faber said the two companies had been working on the plan for months and that a deal was expected to be announced after Sprint's board met late Wednesday. Metro PCS shareholders would have received Sprint shares and some cash, amounting to ownership of about a third of the combined company, Faber said.

It's not clear why the board demurred, Faber said, adding that Sprint CEO Dan Hesse had … Read more

Clearwire has lost an important, but small, shareholder.

Google earlier this month sent letters to both Comcast and Sprint, informing the companies that it plans to divest its ownership in Clearwire for $47 million. That sum, which is derived from Google's sale of 29.4 million shares at $1.60 apiece, is actually a discount on Clearwire's current stock price of $2.27.

Google didn't say in the letters, dated February 7 and 16, respectively, why it has decided to step away from Clearwire. But based on Clearwire's recent funding troubles and perceived weakness, it's … Read more

Clearwire said it has the funding it needs to set up TD-LTE sites around the U.S., and it plans to roll out thousands of them in the coming year.

Speaking earlier this week in an earnings call, Clearwire CEO Erik Prusch said that his company plans to have 5,000 LTE sites in operation by June 2013. Shortly thereafter, Clearwire hopes to add 3,000 more sites.

Sprint, which is the majority shareholder in Clearwire, recently signed a deal that could see it hand over $1.6 billion in funding to Clearwire. Under the deal's terms, Sprint has … Read more

Wireless operator Clearwire's fourth-quarter results were fairly disappointing, but at least its longer term prospects are starting to brighten.

The company, which supplies Sprint Nextel with 4G WiMax wireless service, reported a fourth-quarter loss of $236.8 million, or 81 cents a share, compared with a year-ago loss of $128 million, or 79 cents a share.

Revenue, however, more than doubled to $361.9 million as the company started picking itself up off the mat.

Wall Street analysts were looking for Clearwire to lose 35 cents a share and post revenue of $356.7 million. The company released its revenue and customer growth figures early. … Read more

It appears Clearwire's got some of its confidence back.

The 4G WiMax service provider has released select preliminary results from its fourth quarter, including revenue that was double that of a year ago--$362 million, compared with the year-ago $181 million. The upswing was primarily driven by growth in its wholesale business.

The figure exceeded analysts' average estimate of $355 million in revenue for the period, according to a survey taken by Thomson Reuters.

Clearwire is likely breathing a sigh of relief after several months of uncertainty over its ability to obtain the needed financing to continue its operations, … Read more